Compressor follower for vertical files



Sem 20 H49- o. l.. CLL-:VEN ET AL 2,482,099

COMPRESSOR FOLLOWER FOR VERTICAL FILES Filed Jag. 5o, 194e Y :s sheets-sheet 1 'inmizI limi Mmm. mi

INVENTORS Oz. UF L. CLE ff/v A WEE/VCE A W/Lso/v f y .A u, E

WTO/PNE Y Sept 20, 1949 o. L. cLEvEN ET AL 2,482,099

COMPRESSOR FOLLOWER FOR VERTICAL FILES Filed Jan. 30, 1946 3 Shees-Sheet 2 2/ y l i I ULL/F .CLEVN a@ Aw/FENCE ,4. Vl//Lo/v INVENTORS BWM 4TTORNEY Sept. 20, 1949. o. l.. cLEvEN l-:TAL

COMPRESSOR FOLLOWER FOR VERTICAL FILES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 30, 1946 IN V EN TOR5 rTo/e/VEY talented Sept.I 20, 1949 UNITED fs'mrss TPTNT QFFICE COMPRESSOR FOLLOWERFOR VERTICAL FIIBES Oluf L. Cleven, Washington, D. C.,'and Lawrence A. Wilson, McLean, Va.

(Granted under the act of `March '3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0.-G. 757) 6 lClaims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used 4by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to or us of any royalty thereon in accordance with the provisions of the act of April 30, 1928 (Ch. 460, 45 Stat. L. 467) This invention relates to ling receptacles and more particularly to improvements in compressor followers for vertical card les.

Theicompressor follower of the present invention is intended to be shiftably mounted Vin a fling receptacle for adjustment into a .position iin which its ycompressor plate engages the files therein. n a preferred embodiment, the compressor follower is adapted in adjusted position to be locked to the ling receptacle and, when locked, to be so Operated as to advance its compressor plate toward the engaged files, whereby the files will be compressed and remain compressed until they are to be removed from the `receptacle. The preferred embodiment also provides a rugged construction of relatively few parts -with vits relatively simple locking and operating mechanism installed `in :a protective housing A,

'for-med `of parts having additional functions.

The construction and functions of the compressor follower of the ypresent invention make it -well suited `to .the @requirements of Vfiles for .the ecards used in business and :other .automatic Itabulating machines. In the use of suchmachines it is important that the A cards be straight and ilat, otherwise the .machines .may not 4operate lin the desired manner.

Experience shows fthat cards used in business machines often become bent ,or warped for various ,reasons and then, fed -into a machine, interfere with its normal operation. For example, .the cards .may become bent or warped vfrom handling. The cards willalsotend to buckle when exposed to the atmosphere. Loosely arranged cards'in a filing receptacle permitair and its moisture to enter the spaces between adjoining cards. This air and moisture is taken up by .the cards and causes them to lose their straight and Vilalt condition.

Filing receptacles provided with cards resting on `their edges and `with a compressor -follower embodying the present invention will straighten warped or bentcards and will 4prevent the warping or bucklingof fiat straight cards.

laccomplished by :the .compressor plate .of `the 'follower which exerts pressure against the cards .andmaintains them .in closely packedcondition,

the -action -of the .compressor plate being that `of :1.31 DTQSS- This ,end

It is, therefore, 4an .object of this .invention to provide a compressor follower .with an improved device .for securely ,locking .the follower in any position of ,adjustment .in a filing receptacle.

Another object is-toprovide acompressor-follower having relatively shiitablecompressor and main plate members .and improved means for relatively shifting such plate members.

I.Still another objectistoprovide acompressor follower having relatively .shiftable compressor and main plate members, and-lockingmeans controlledby and responsive to the relative shifting movement of the plate members.

A still further `object is to .provide :a .com-

presser follower which .is .characterized by .its-

ruggedness and simplicity, by itsimproved lock- Yingand operating mechanism, by .theprotection .afforded vfor such mechanism, and bythe ease with .which it `may be adjusted, locked -and operated to compressled material.

Anctherobject .is Vto provide an improved card follower for use with a filing receptacle :for -ma- -chinecards tabulating cards andthe like, which deteriorate or .warp if not .closely packed when liiled, ithe -follower vbeing adapted .to compress the ledmaterial ata desiredpressure and to maintain `the compressed .conditionbf the materiales long as. desired.

Another object is torprovide a compressor type .of le 'follower rfor use with va ling-tray for machine cards, tabulating cards and the like, that is well constructed and'can be manufactured -at a low cost.

Other objects and vadvantages will be apparent Vfrom the following description, the appended `claim-s, and the accompanying drawings, where- Fig. l is a perspective 4view of acompressor follower embodying the present invention and installed in a card file receptacle.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical Vsectional `view through the receptacle of Fig. 1 and shows-a rear elevational View of the compressor follower.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View of the compresser follower and is taken on line 3-3 `of Fig. 2.

e is a View similar to Fig. 3, but withthe compressor plate member adjusted to an advanced position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view-taken on line .5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig.6 `is an end viewof the compressor follower when adjusted as shownin Figs. `3 and 5.

Fig. 'l is .an end .view Yof the compressor follower `when adjusted as shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views of parts of the compressor follower illustrated in Figs. 1 through 7.

Referring now to the drawings, a receptacle A for filing material B is provided with a compressor follower C embodying this invention.

The receptacle A is illustrated as being in the form of a card tray or drawer, but may be of any conventional form and construction. The illustrated receptacle A has the usual front wall I, side walls II, bottom wall I2 and rear wall (not shown). A handle I3 of conventional form may be provided for use in carrying the receptacle A when it is removed from its cabinet (not shown) Channels I5 are set in longitudinal side Wall recesses so as to have their open sides facing each other. These channels I5 serve as tracks for slidably supporting the compressor follower C and extend in parallel relation for the full length .of the receptacle A.

The filing material B may be tabulating cards, sheets, photographs, or similar files which are usually arranged in vertical position with their edges resting on the receptacle bottom I2.

The compressor follower C is slidably supported in the channels or tracks I5 for rectilinear movement and is adjustable toward and away from the receptacle front wall Ill. The compressor follower C comprises two relatively movable plate members D and E, a support member F, a cam device G, and a locking device H.

The main plate member D (Fig. 8) is substantially rectangular, is arranged in upright or vertical position and preferably extends substantially from receptacle side wall to the opposite receptacle side wall I I. The plate D may be formed of sheet metal and stamped or bent to provide forwardly extending substantially parallel upper and lower edge anges 25, 2| with a 'longitudinal channel-shaped reinforcing section 22 underlying the upper edge flange 29. The flanges 2|), 2| are preferably of the same width and of the same length, and the channel section 22 preferably is of the same length as the flanges 2U, 2| and of such depth that its vertical wall is in substantially the same plane as the outer edges of the flanges 2U, 2|. The plate D is also provided with an aperture 23 for a purpose to be described.

The member E (Fig. 9) is an upright or vertical compressor plate having a substantially rectangular flat front face 24, a longitudinal reinforcing or stiffening rib 25, and a boss 26. The upper, lower and side edges of the plate E are provided with rearwardly extending flanges 2l, 28, 29, and 39 which provide a continuous reinforcing ange along the entire plate periphery. Thus, the member El somewhat resembles a shallow tray. The side edge flanges 29 and 30 are provided with notches 3| (Figs. 6 and 9) for a purpose to be described.

As illustrated in Figures 3 through '7, the plate members D and E have sliding, telescopically interfltting relation. The upper flange 21 of plate member El slides in the slot provided by the upper flange 29 and the channel section 22 of the plate member D. The lower flange 23 of member E slides on the upper surface of the lower flange 2| .of the member D. The side flanges 29, 39 of the member E are spaced to receive therebetween the channel section 22 of member D.

The interiitting members D and E are supported from the side wall channels or tracks I5 by the U-shaped member F which may be brazed or welded to the inner face of the main plate member D as shown in Figs. 5 and 8. The tWo parallel legs 35, 36 of the supporting member F form shoes, are disposed in the side wall channels I5, and have such Vertical dimension as to slide freely therein while precluding appreciable tilting. Thus the compressor follower C is easily adjusted relative to the receptacle front wall, yet is so supported as to maintain both its vertical position and its parallel relation with respect to the receptacle front wall I0.

Reduction of weight without sacrifice of required strength may be secured by providing the cut outs 31 in the supporting member F and the main plate D (see Figs. 1, 2 and 8). The shoes 35, 36, if desired, may be integral parts of the member D' and formed from the same blank of sheet metal stock.

The compressor plate E is shifted relative to and toward and away from the main plate D by the cam device G. This cam device G comprises a sleeve 49 which may be suitably and rigidly secured to the boss 26 of the plate E, as by welding or brazing. The sleeve 49 is provided with two similar helical cam slots 4| and 42 which terminate short .of the sleeve ends. Cam slot 4| may be seen in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 9 and cam slot 42 may be seen in Fig. 5. In the illustrated embodiment, each slot 4|, 42 extends peripherally of the sleeve 49 for about 180 degrees. The slot ends are so disposed that their longitudinal axes lie in planes normal to the axis of the sleeve 40 (see Figs. 3 and 4).

A stud 43 has a reduced end section journaled in the main plate opening 23 and the aligned opening in the support member F (see Fig. 5), and is slidably received and journaled in the sleeve 40 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 9). A pin 44 extends through and is rigidly connected to the stud 43 and has its opposite ends received within the cam slots 4|, 42. The outer end of the stud 43 is of non-circular shape in cross-section (see Fig. 9) and is received within a correspondingly shaped aperture in an operating finger lever which is secured to the stud 43 by a Screw 46. The lever 45 lies close to the rear face of the main plate D, is supported by the stud 43, and when operated is effective to rotate the stud 43 and its pin 44.

When the lever 45 is swung from the position of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 to the positions of Figs. 4 and 7, the stud 43 is rotated and the pin 44 travels along the cam slots 4|, 42 from the position of Fig. 3 to the position of Fig. 4. In this operation of the lever 45, the cam slots 4| and 42 and the pin 44 cooperate to shift the compressor plate E forwardly and away from the main plate D and from the position of Figs. 3, 5 and 6 to the position of Figs. 4 and '7. Reverse operation of the lever 45 will cause the pin 44 to travel in the slots 4|, 42 from the setting of Fig. 4 to the setting of Fig. 3 and the compressor follower C to resume the setting of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.

The cam device G provides a positive means for shifting the compressor plate E both away from and toward the main plate D. Only a relatively slight force need be exerted on the finger lever 45 to provide this shifting action. It is also to be noted that in either of the two settings indicated by Figs. 3 and 4, the cam slot ends cooperate with the pin 44 to preclude accidental relative movement of the plates D and E. Thus the cam device G locks the plate E in both its fully retracted and fully advanced positions relative to the plate D.

The illustrated embodiment positions the sleeve 40, the stud 43 and the pin 44 in the space between the flanged plates D and E which thus provide .a protectiye housing and :minimize accidental :damage .to thercam device G.

yThe compressor follower C is locked .in any selected adjusted'position by a deviceI ormeans H `whichis-controlled byjandresponsive to the shiftinggmovement of the compressor plate E relative -to the main plate D by the cam device G. The locking action is secured'inthe-initial partof the lnloveirletit Vof Vthe compressor plate E away from .the main plate D and from V.the setting -of Figs.

1,2, 3,15 and-'6.

'Ehe-,locking device Hfcomprises a resilient wire or `rod 5|] (Fig.8) andftworollers'l. Thegrollers 5| are rotatably received by the ends of the rod '5.0 .and are disposed :in the-:planes of the track shoes ,35. The irod 55 is bent or shaped to fprovidesections'eZ whichfserve-asspringarms for supporting 4the rollers 351i Intermediate :the arm `sections 52 the .rod 50 :is floosely secured to 'the .main plate 1D :by clips ;53 Vwhich may "be struck itherefrom las shown in Fig. 8. Afcentral lsection Ellzis bent and upstanding-to abut the inner `face i *the :mainplate =D, and position the;;fiexible rod -arms52 at an angle to Vboth offthe :plates Dand The rollers 5,1, Whichpreferably have knurled `-peripheries, aref-'received in cut'outsfin the `slices 35,136 (see Figs. .6, 'land 8). Eac-hicut out pro- :vides lan:abutment or edge .55 vwhichis `inclined or iat .an angle -to V`the .lower :horizontal 'edge -of the respective shoe and to fthe :respective `side wall Ychannel 15. :Each cut fout -also terminates 4in arcuate edges-or roller stopsfii 5l.

The aligned roller `supporting ends of lthe -rod '0 extend through 'the 'notches 3l Aof rthe comrpressor :plate ilanges `2.9, il, vas shown by Fig. 6.

Thus the rollers supporting spring :arms -52 at vtheir outerfends a-re adapted'to 1beengaged 'bythe -compressorfplate .=E and'torespond to the shifting -vmovement -of the latter.

FIn the collapsed setting .of the compressor follower JC r(Figs. l, 2, t3, 5 ande), the `compressor `plate .'E holds the arms :52 in such position that shoes. ANow the lrollers l5I are in 'a retracted Aposition andfdo not engage the bottom'of there- .ceptacle sidezwallchannels l5. Withxthis'setting ofzthezrollers 5l ,the compressor folloWer'C-is 'free mto slide along 4the side wall channels .I5 andinasr "be `readily adjusted'fto any-.position-relativeto Athe -receptaclefront Ywall 2l 0 (Fig. 1)

Whenthe lever F55 is operatedfto. shift thelcom- -pressor plate rE `rfrom the Fig. 6 position tothe "Fig. '7 position, the compressor plate 2E permits the arms 52 to swing forwardly under 'their inherent resilient action and `to move Ythe lrollers 5fl along the abutmentsoriinclined edgesr55 until 'they assumewedging engagement .withlboththe abutments 55 and fthe lower sides ofthe recep- `ftacle side wall channels l5, rtherebyzlocking the Vshoes '35. 35 of 'the compressor follower C to fthe filing receptacle A and precludingfmovement of the shoes k35, Vand "the main plate- D in adirectionaway-fromthereceptacleifront wall I0. Any force now exertedon the compressor followerC lto'move it rearwardly would result onlylin an increase -i-n vthe effective Awedging action-Of the rroll- .'ers, abutments and Lchannels` 'The-rollers-l `and the-abutments 55 have such relation 'that the .fdescribed wedging and locking action is accomplished vwithin a ltractionof the total Amovement yof -gthe compressor plate E `away rfrorn'the mainplate Drby the cam device-G.

'When :the compressor @plate TE vis next shifted toward-the mainplate 1D 'by the cam;device'G,-the vplate .-E swings-fthe arms 152 ltoward themain plate :13, and `the rollers 5l .arefmovedalongztheabut- .mentsS-totheretracted and vcompressor follower aeleasing positionof Fig. 6.

It will lbe noted that the spring rod 50 is Ysubstantially enclosed and thereby protected b y the plates D and E and that, when the compressor follower-1C ,is installed in the receptacle A, the entire locking-mechanism or device is inaccessiblec .and thus protected against accidental damage.

peration When iiling material B is to 'be inserted in the receptacle or tray A, the finger lever is set in -the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 and the compressor follower C is slid along the receptacle side wall channels l5 to any selected position of adjustment. Filing material, such as cards B, are .placed on edge in the receptacle A between the front wall lil and the compressor follower C. The compressor follower C is then shifted forwardly until the front face 24 of the compressor plate E engages the filed cards B (see Fig. 1). This last operation is conveniently accomplished by using one hand to retain the cards B in vupright position and closely packed against the receptacle iront wall I0 and by using the other hand to shift the compressor follower C. The latter hand may rest on the main plate llange 20 with the linger tips resting in the channel section 22.

The finger lever is `then swung counterclockwise (Fig. 2) to the Fig. 4 position. During Ythe ,irst few degrees of rotary movement of the finger leverde, the compressorplate E-moves away from the .main plate D and releases the spring arms 52 so that they move the-rollers 5l into engagement with both vthe lower flangesoftthe side wall channels `i5 and the shoe abutments 55 for locking the compressor follower shoes 35, 36 to the receptacleside walls il. vDuring the remainder of the counterclockwise rotation of the finger lever ,55, the main plate D remains locked and stationary and the compressor plate E is advanced to compress the led cards B against the receptacle front wall if). The advanced and card compressing position of the compressor plate E is `illnstratedby Figs. 4 and 7.

It is to be `understood that Fig. 7 illustrates the compressor follower C as it appears when removed from the filing receptacle A and the roller 5i as it appears when shifted to an extreme position by the resilient action of the arm 52. However, when the compressor follower C is installed in the filing receptacle A, a relatively short-movement of the rollers 5| along the abutments 55 from the solid line position of Fig. 6 to the dotted line position of Fig. 6 is adequate osecure the described wedging and locking acion.

The compressor follower C remains in the set- `ting of i as long as thecards B are to re main in the receptacle A, during vwhich time lthe cards are highlylcompressed and retained in fiat condition.

.At this point, `it should be noted that the cam slots el and lli?. are so arranged that a substantial ccmpressing force may be applied to the cards B by using only a relatively slight force on the linger lever 55. Under certain conditions, -it may also be found that adequate compression .of the cards ;B maybe secured before the lever a5 reaches the extreme position illustrated in In that fevent, the `lever will be set in a position intermediate .the two positions indi- Icated by 3 and Ll, the pin lll will beset in a :corresponding .position intermediate the .ends

7 of the cam slots 4l, 42, and the cam device G will be effective to maintain the cards B compressed until the lever 45 is next rotated clockwise (looking at Fig. 2).

When access to the led cards is again desired, the finger lever 45 is swung clockwise and returned to the setting shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, to draw the compressor plate E toward the main plate D and retract the rollers 5I to the Fig. 6 setting for releasing the shoes 35, 36 and thereby freeing them for sliding movement along the side wall channels i5.' The compressor follower C is then adjusted to a rearward position in the receptacle A, and the cards are conveniently acc ssible for examination or removal,

1f it is desired to remove the tray or receptacle A from its cabinet, it may be conveniently carried by grasping the handle I3 in one hand and the compressor follower C in the other hand. The palm of the latter hand may rest on the main plate ange it) with the iinger tips extending into the channel section 22.

The foregoingr is illustrative, since this invention includes all embodiments and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a ling tray having inner side walls provided with tracks, a compressorfollower comprising a le compressor plate member having peripheral flanges, a second plate member having peripheral flanges, the said flanges of the two members having telescopically intertting relation, means disposed between said two members and operative to effect their relative movement toward and away from each other, a lever for operating said means, shoes rigidly secured to said second plate member and slidably disposed in said tracks, an element disposed between each of said shoes and the corresponding track, each element being movable to secure its shoe to the corresponding track, and resilient supporting means for said elements, said supporting means being located between said plate members, being supported by one of said plate members, and being engageable with the other plate member to respond to relative movement of said plate members for moving said elements.

2. A compressor-follower for filing tray having inner side walls provided with tracks, said compressor-follower comprising shoes adapted to be slidably disposed in said tracks, telescopically intertting members extending between and supported by said shoes, means positioned in the space between said members for securing their relative movement toward and away from each other, a nger lever for operating said means, an element associated with each of said shoes, each element being movable to secure its shoe to the corresponding track, and resilient supporting means for said elements, said supporting means being located between said plate members, being supported by one of said plate members, and being engageable with the other plate member to respond to relative movement of said plate members for moving said elements.

3. In combination with a filing tray having inner side walls provided with tracks, a compressor-follower comprising a substantially rectangular file compressor plate member provided with a rearwardly extending and continuous peripheral flange, a second plate member having upper and lower forwardly extending edge flanges telescopically interfitting said compressor plate member flange, shoes slidably disposed in said tracks and secured in supporting relation to said second plate member, cam means disposed between said members and operative to shift said compressor plate member toward and away from said second plate member, a finger lever operatively connected to said cam means, a roller associated with each of said shoes, each roller being movable relative to its shoe for securing the 'shoe to the corresponding track, and a resilient arm support for each of said rollers, said arm supports being located between said plate members, being supported by one of said plate members, and being engageable with the other plate member to respond to relative movement of said plate .members for moving said rollers.

4. The combination with a filing receptacle having inner side walls provided with longitudinal channels opening toward each other, and a compressor-follower having relatively movable plate members each extending between said side walls and also having shoes rigidly secured to one of said members and slidably disposed in said channels, of locking means comprising an abutment on each of said shoes disposed at an angle to the respective channel, a roller positioned between each shoe abutment and the respective channel, and resilient arms rotatably supporting said rollers and movable to shift said rollers along said abutments, said arms being carried by said one plate member and being engageable with the other plate member to respond to relative movement of said plate members away from each other for shifting said rollers into locking engagement with said abutments and said channels and to relative movement of said plate members toward each other for shifting said rollers to releasing position.

5. The combination with a filing receptacle having inner side walls provided with longitudinal channels opening toward each other, of a compressor-follower comprising a shoe in each channel and adapted to slide therein, a vertical main plate member rigidly connected to and supported by said shoes, a compressor plate member supported by said main plate member and movable relative thereto, means operative to move said plate members toward and away from each other, each of said shoes having a cut-out intermediate the ends thereof, each cut-out providing an abutment disposed at an angle to the respective channel, a roller positioned between each shoe abutment and the respective channel, a resilient rod mounted on said main plate member, the ends of said rod rotatably supporting said rollers, sections of said rod adjacent said rod ends serving as spring arms for yieldingly urging said rollers along said abutments and into locking engagement with said abutments and said channels, said compressor plate member in the movement thereof toward said main plate member being engageable with said rod to shift said rollers along said abutments to releasing position.

6. The combination with a ling receptacle, of a compressor-follower slidably supported in said receptacle for movement relative thereto, said compressor-follower comprising: a vertical main plate extending between the side walls of said receptacle; said plate having forwardly extending, substantially parallel upper and lower edge flanges and reinforcement in the form of a longitudinal channel shaped section underlying said upper edge flange; a vertical compressor plate having rearwardly extending upper, lower and side edge ilanges; the upper and lower flanges of said two plates having slidable, telescopically intertting relation and with said main plate Y 10 channel section positoned between the sidevedge REFERENCES CITED anges of said compressor plate, means for lock- The f l ing said main plate in adjusted position relative me of gfgferferences are of record m the to said receptacle, means disposed within the space defined by said two plates and said plate 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS anges for shifting said compressor plate toward Number Nme Date and away from said main plate, and a lever posi- 367,394 Mins ;r w Oct. 1 1907 tioned at the outer side of said main plate for 1 391 522 Bullock bec 20 1932 operating said plate shifting means. 2389612 1 n N 27 1945 oLUFl L. CLEVEN. 1o C even et al* ov' LAWRENCE A. WILSON'.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,482,099 September 20, 1949 OLUF L. (ELEVEN ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 5, line 42, after the Word that insert the rollers 51 engage the arcuate edges 56 of the;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th daT of February, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommzsszoner of Patents. 

